EVELYN'S POV
I arrived at the venue earlier than planned, a grand conference hall bathed in golden sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows. The space was alive with understated elegance; polished wooden floors, silk-draped tables, and delicate floral arrangements scattered across the room.
Despite the tranquil beauty, my mind buzzed with thoughts I couldn't quite shake. I had hoped to steal a few moments alone to settle my nerves before the meeting started.
As I wandered around, admiring the sample decor displayed by event planners, I caught sight of someone unusual a woman arranging flowers with precise, deliberate movements. There was a quiet grace to her that drew me in.
"Hi, I'm Evelyn," I said, walking over and extending a hand. "I haven't seen you around before. Are you from Mooncrest?"
The woman looked up, her eyes lighting with a friendly smile. "Hello, Evelyn," she replied, shaking my hand. "I'm Clara, from Suncrest. I was brought in to help with the decorations this year. It's my first time working on a charity event."
"Nice to meet you, Clara," I said warmly, glancing at the stunning arrangements she'd already completed. "Your work is beautiful. It's great to have someone with your talent here."
"Thank you," she said, a shy smile playing on her lips. "I've always been drawn to how art and decor can transform a space, set a mood, or tell a story."
I nodded, intrigued. "Exactly! That's what I love about it too. Every detail, every choice, it's like painting a canvas, but instead of brushes, we use flowers, lighting, and textures."
Clara's eyes lit up. "That's such a perfect way to describe it. I studied floral design, but I've always been inspired by classical art and architecture. Sometimes I borrow ideas from paintings, you know, the color palettes, and the compositions."
"That's brilliant," I said, smiling. "I've always thought the right decor can evoke the same emotions as a masterpiece in a gallery. It's not just about beauty, it's about creating an experience."
She beamed, clearly pleased. "Exactly! I once designed a wedding inspired by Monet's water lilies. The couple loved it as it was like stepping into a painting."
"That sounds incredible," I said, genuinely impressed. "You must bring so much creativity to your work. I can't wait to see what you do for this event."
Clara blushed, her confidence growing. "Thank you, Evelyn. It's wonderful to talk to someone who sees decor as more than just aesthetics. It's an art form in its own right."
"It really is," I agreed, feeling a spark of camaraderie. "And with your vision, I think we're going to create something truly memorable for this event."
Clara's enthusiasm was infectious, and her expertise was evident. Just as I was starting to feel relaxed, a familiar voice broke through the quiet buzz of the room.
"Evelyn, is that you?" the voice asked.
I turned, my heart leaping at the sound of Lucas's voice. He strode toward me, his signature confident smile in place, yet there was something deeper in his gaze; something I couldn't quite decipher.
"Lucas?" I said, startled. "What are you doing here?"
He chuckled softly. "I'm one of the sponsors for this year's event," he said, "Didn't you know?"
"No... I didn't," I stammered, caught off guard. "Lucas, this is Clara. Clara, this is Lucas, one of our sponsors."
Lucas offered his hand, flashing Clara a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Your decorations are stunning."
"Thank you," Clara replied, beaming.
Lucas turned back to me, his expression shifting to something more serious. "Clara, would you mind if I borrowed Evelyn for a moment?"
"Of course," she said, her knowing glance making me feel slightly exposed.
Lucas guided me a few steps away, his voice dropping to a low, urgent tone. "Okay, I'd start by telling you that I'm sorry about yesterday," he said, "But why did you leave so abruptly yesterday, Evelyn? You didn't even tell me what was going on."
I avoided his piercing gaze, fiddling with the bracelet on my wrist. "I had something to take care of," I said, "It wasn't a big deal."
He frowned, leaning closer, his voice low but steady. "Evelyn, I need to ask; are you seeing someone else? If there's another man in the picture, just tell me. I'd rather know the truth than be left guessing."
His question startled me, and I quickly shook my head. "No, Lucas, there's no one else," I said firmly. "It's not about that. I just... I have a lot going on right now. Family stuff, mostly. It's complicated."
He studied me for a moment, his gaze unwavering. Then, with a small sigh, he leaned back slightly, his tone softening. "Evelyn, I like you," he admitted, his voice earnest. "I mean, really like you. I'd like to get to know you better. I want to understand what's in your heart."
His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. Finally, I took a breath and met his eyes. "Lucas, I appreciate your honesty. I do," I said carefully. "And I think you're a wonderful person. But right now, I don't want to rush into anything. I have a lot on my plate, and I need to focus on sorting out a few things in my life first."
He nodded slowly, the faintest trace of disappointment in his expression, though he masked it well. "I understand," he said. "I didn't mean to put any pressure on you, Evelyn. I just wanted to be upfront about how I feel. Take all the time you need, I'm not going anywhere."
"Thank you, Lucas," I said softly, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I appreciate your patience and understanding."
He returned the smile, a touch of warmth returning to his face. "You're worth the wait, Evelyn," he said simply. "And if there's ever anything I can do to make things easier for you, don't hesitate to let me know."
I nodded, grateful yet uneasy. "Thank you, Lucas. I appreciate it."
As I glanced past him, my breath caught. Among the crowd milling about near the entrance, I spotted someone unmistakably familiar. Albert. He was impeccably dressed in a dark blue suit, his commanding presence impossible to ignore. For a fleeting moment, our eyes met or so I thought. But just as quickly, he slipped away, disappearing into the sea of faces.
"Evelyn?" Lucas's voice broke through my daze. "What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I forced a smile, shaking off the lingering unease. "It's nothing. Just a little distracted, that's all."
Lucas gave me a skeptical look but nodded. "Alright. I'll catch up with you later."
I turned back to Clara, forcing my focus onto her presentation of floral samples. But the image of Albert lingered, his sudden presence stirring up a storm of emotions. Why was he here? What did it mean?
Clara, oblivious to my turmoil, showed me photo after photo of her past work, her excitement evident. "This one," she said, pointing to an opulent ballroom draped in warm golden light, "was for a winter gala."
"It's stunning," I said, trying to concentrate. "The way you've used lighting to set the mood... it's perfect."
"Thank you," she said, her smile widening. "I was thinking we could incorporate some of these ideas here. What do you think?"
I nodded, grateful for the distraction. "Absolutely. It's exactly what this event needs."
As she continued scrolling, she paused on a particular photo. Her expression faltered slightly, the bright enthusiasm dimming. "This one," she said hesitantly, "was for a private event in Suncrest."
I glanced at the screen, my pulse quickening. The designs in the photo were too familiar. My throat tightened as the pieces of a puzzle I'd been trying to ignore started to fall into place.
"Evelyn?" Clara's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. "Is everything alright? You look... unsettled."
I forced a laugh, shaking my head. "It's nothing," I lied. "Just a bit overwhelmed. Let's move on to the next sample."
But as Clara continued, my mind stayed on the photograph. The connections I'd been trying to avoid were becoming impossible to ignore, and I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was about to unravel.